Repairing mortar on patio

Tangerine300

Hi

I've tried repairing some mortar using a measured amount of sand, cement and water. I had to do the job over a couple of days, but on each day the mortar dried to a different colour.

How do I get a consistently grey mix instead of the more yellow shade used on common yellow bricks?

Thank you.

NeverInDebt

I believe the colour of sand can alter the colour or mortar also if you use slightly stronger mix of cement you get a darker grey consistency.

wallbash

Tangerine300 wrote: »

Hi

I've tried repairing some mortar using a measured amount of sand, cement and water. I had to do the job over a couple of days, but on each day the mortar dried to a different colour.

How do I get a consistently grey mix instead of the more yellow shade used on common yellow bricks?

Thank you.

Have had a large amount of crazy paving done, took three weeks, but the colour was consistent.
But the sand was measured out by the level bucket full and the cement by a kiddies bucket, both leveled to the top.
The colour was dictated by the sand, if I remember correctly it was one bucket of Leighton Buzzard sharp sand to three buckets of soft sand.

Tangerine300

Was the ratio 1:3:1 cement?

wallbash

Sorry too long ago, and I was talking crazy paving. My point was that although you said you measured, my builders went to extreme lengths.

The sand was always very dry, covered until required, if the sand had been wet, the ratio would have altered .

ps seeing some hairy assed builders playing with kiddies buckets will live with me for ever :rotfl:

marlot

Its expensive, but I changed to using this: http://www.pavingexpert.com/point_ncc02.htm. Unlike mortar, this actually sticks to the paving slabs.

Available in different colours.

It relatively easy to use, and lasts much longer than a mortar mix in my experience.

A.Penny.Saved

You can get mortar repairing products which are very strong and they are grey or resin mortar products. The former can be a bit expensive but you will need to blast it out if you ever want to remove it. lol

Or you could use a cement colouring product to change the colour of the cement. You can buy different colours of it, Red, Black, Yellow, Brown, Buff etc often in powder form and mix it with the mortar. That type of stuff is available from just about everywhere including the DIY sheds but getting the right colour might be more difficult.

There is some useful info on that pavingexpert site previously mentioned by marlot.

wallbash

Has any one else looked at the price of a tub ???

Before looking , make sure you are sitting down .